Lucasfilm paid tribute to Taylor in a post on the Star Warswebsite, stating: "From the iconic opening shot of a massive Imperial Star Destroyer chasing the Rebels' Tantive IV to the setting of twin suns on Tatooine, Taylor played a large role in establishing the visual identity of the entire series."

George Lucas added in a statement: "Gilbert's work truly stands the test of time... I had the privilege of working with him on Star Wars. He was a true expert in his craft.

"Gilbert's inspired work will live on in the many films he contributed to throughout his long career."

Before Star Wars, Taylor had already worked on such classics as Dr Strangelove, A Hard Day's Night with The Beatles and Roman Polanski's Repulsion.

Taylor was also involved in the likes of The Omen, Dracula in 1979, Flash Gordon and The Bedroom Window.